Bobby Beausoleil’s 2008 Parole Hearing

Saturday, December 22nd, 2012

Dec. 22 – In this conference call parole hearing that occurred four years ago today, Bobby Beausoleil attempts to tell a Sacramento parole board what led him to murder Gary Hinman and how he has changed since.

On the phone in Oregon, Beausoleil struggles to communicate with the board and exhausts the patience of Commissioner Arthur Anderson.

“I don’t want a history on the 60s,” interrupts Anderson when Beausoleil begins talking about the culture at the time of the murder. “I want to know why you’re suitable for parole. I lived the 60s, so I know what happened back then.”

Answering questions submitted by Deputy District Attorney Patrick Sequeira, Beausoleil reveals that along with his many art and music projects, he is currently working on an autobiography.

Bobby Beausoleil

Bobby Beausoleil was born in Santa Barbara, California in 1947. Bobby displayed an interest in music at a very young age, and eventually taught himself how to play the guitar. When Beausoleil was 16, he had an affair with a cousin’s wife; angered by the affair, his cousin left. Young Bobby was forced to play the role of husband, working for a trailer company to support his cousin’s wife and child. After the death of a grandmother Bobby moved to Los Angeles. …Learn more

Commissioner Arthur Anderson

Arthur Anderson, Jr., was appointed to the Board of Parole Hearings by Governor Schwarzenegger on February 22, 2008 and re-appointed by Governor Brown on July 12, 2011. Since 2000, he has been a law enforcement consultant for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Anderson served as assistant commissioner for field operations at the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and, from 2001 to 2004, was the chief of the valley division for CHP. From 2000 to 2001, he was chief of the professional standards division at CHP and, from 1999 to 2000, was assistant chief of the Golden Gate division at CHP. Prior to that, Mr. Anderson was director of the California Office of Traffic Safety from 1993 to 1999. From 1974 to 1992, he served in various other positions with CHP including captain commander, lieutenant, sergeant and patrol officer. This position requires Senate approval.

5 Responses to Bobby Beausoleil’s 2008 Parole Hearing

It looks like there are problems with long incarcerations appearing in parole hearings. Human memory begins to fail after decades have passed. Beausoleil is being asked questions about things he no longer remembers.

Out of curiosity I have requested and received other murderers parole hearing transcripts, one was Manson’s cell mate David Hooker who was convicted of killing his adopted dad (Thomas Hooker who TJ Hooker the t.v. series was based on) by lighting their house on fire and leaving his disabled father in the house to die. The interesting thing, is there was no mention of David Hooker’s crime. Not one iota! His parole hearing was all about his time in prison and how he’d spent it. Why are the Manson family hearings so different? Why do they rehash the crimes? Is this for the media? I just would like to know. It seemed to me the officials wanted to rehash the 60’s more than Mr. Beausoleil did.

As you go through the transcript, you can see the wheels coming off. Of course, the Prosecutor at a couple points helped throw a little sand in the gears as Bobby B. tried to backtrack and explain.

If they were all in the same room together I would imagine that it could have gone better as the chance to read body language may have helped bring greater clarity to what Bobby B. was trying to say to Mr. Anderson.

Mr P brings up a good point regarding ‘memory’ and at the same time having to live with the actual court testimony or prior interviews some 4 decades ago.

Gina’s spot on observation also has me wondering so if others who have listened/read other non Manson parole transcripts could weigh in that would be uber helpful. I thought the onus of the parole hearing was to concentrate on post trial activities, steps taken for rehab, why you are a good candidate for release, etc etc etc.

However, i am also guessing the Parole Board has great latitude in determining all of the above and if they want to delve into the crime they can do so as they assess the parole candidate.